Act 8:5-38 KJV Then Philip
went down to the city of Samaria, and
preached Christ unto
them. (6) And the people with one accord gave
heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the
miracles which he did. (7) For unclean spirits, crying with
loud
voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken
with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. (8) And
there was
great joy in that city. (9) But there was a
certain man, called
Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched
the people of Samaria,
giving out that himself was some great one:
(10) To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest,
saying, This man is the great power of God. (11) And to him
they had
regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with
sorceries. (12) But when they believed Philip preaching the
things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were
baptized, both men and women. (13) Then Simon
himself believed also:
and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered,
beholding the miracles and signs which were done. (14) Now when the
apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the
word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15) Who,
when they
were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy
Ghost: (16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them:
only they
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (17) Then
laid they
their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (18)
And when
Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost
was given, he offered them money, (19) Saying, Give me also
this
power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
(20) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because
thou
hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
(21)
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not
right in the sight of God. (22) Repent therefore of this
thy
wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be
forgiven thee. (23) For I perceive that thou art in the
gall of
bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. (24) Then answered
Simon,
and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which
ye have spoken come upon me. (25) And they, when they had
testified
and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached
the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. (26) And the
angel of
the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto
the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is
desert.
(27) And he arose and went: and, behold,
a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch
of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the
charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to
worship,
(28) Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the
prophet. (29) Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near,
and join
thyself to this chariot.
(30) And Philip ran thither to him, and
heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what
thou readest? (31) And he said, How can I, except some man
should
guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with
him. (32) The place of the scripture which he read was
this, He was
led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his
shearer, so opened he not his mouth: (33) In his
humiliation his
judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his
life is taken from the earth. (34) And the eunuch answered
Philip,
and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself,
or of some other man? (35) Then Philip opened his mouth,
and began at
the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (36) And
as they
went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said,
See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37) And
Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And
he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God.
(38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went
down
both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he
baptized him.
In this chapter PHILIP is an evangelist.
Both did great miracles and wonders before their audiences. Act 6:8 KJV And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Act 8:5-6 KJV Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. (6) And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. The wonders of Stephen had him stoned to death, while Philip's wonders turned the Samaritans to Jesus! So we can compare Stephen and Philip and really see how much the jews resisted the Gospel.
But we can also compare SIMON THE SORCERER and EUNUCH OF ETHIOPIA.
SIMON MAGUS Simon the sorcerer has also been called SIMON MAGUS, since the term MAGUS is associated with MAGICIAN.
But at this time, when Philip preached, he astounded the people with magical tricks.
And Philip came and preached the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
Act 8:13 KJV Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. In other words, SIMON was as astounded at the genuine miracles of Philip as much as the Samaritans were astounded at HIS TRICKS. He knew these were not tricks.
And so he got baptized with the rest of the people. Now, nobody received the Holy Ghost at that time.
Act 8:14-17 KJV Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Simon had been following Philip around after he was converted, and saw the apostles do this! Act 8:18-19 KJV And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, (19) Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. Notice something interesting.
Simon had been astounding people with tricks before.
Not only that, but notice the APOSTLES came down to lay hands on people so they might receive the Holy Ghost.
It is from this story that SIMONY is coined.
Act 8:20-23 KJV But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (21) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. (22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. (23) For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Peter rebuked him severely!
SIMON did not properly appreciate the truths PHILIP PREACHED! Philip preached the kingdom. John 3:5 KJV Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This is why Phi;lip water baptized the people and Peter and John came to see them receive Spirit Baptism. Peter's rebuke to Simon reminds me of the following: Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Peter was rebuked for not accepting the suffering of the cross.
Simon had been baptized.
Rom 6:3-4 KJV Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Jesus Christ DIED for us.
The same Peter who rebuked Simon, wrote this: 1Pe 1:18-19 KJV Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: We were saved by THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST!
Act 8:23 KJV For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Simon was in an utterly depraved state of mind, and was therefore still captive and a prisoner of sin!
After Romans read we are baptized into Jesus death, making His death into our own deaths, it says: Rom 6:7 KJV For he that is dead is freed from sin. We are freed.
That was why Paul wrote: Rom 6:2 KJV God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? We are dead to sin because we were baptized into Jesus' death!
Unfortunately, if you die and are not saved, you are freed from sin and wake up in hell. But we die with Jesus and LIVE ON! The Holy Ghost and all the powers from God are GIFTS.
Mankind was a wasted effort!
Gen 3:14-15 KJV And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. THE SEED OF THE WOMAN WOULD COME AND CRUSH SATAN'S POWER. Man had to die now. Gen 2:17 KJV But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. How could MONEY change that? Heb 2:14-15 KJV Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Jesus would DESTROY THE DEVIL'S POWER THROUGH THE VERY PRINCIPLE OF DEATH!!! He had to die to save us! And the whole point of baptism is Getting Saved by JESUS' DEATH! Lev 1:4 KJV And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. An atonement sacrifice was offered in the place of the OFFERER.
Rom 5:10-11 KJV For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Jesus is our atonement.
2Co 5:14 KJV For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: His death for us means we can say we died. NOTHING ELSE WOULD WORK! Simon knew the miracles were real, but he NEVER GOT THE GREATEST TRUTH!
We were so entrenched in sin, that all mankind was on death row.
God came in flesh and DIED on the cross.
In fact, God kept Adam away from the tree of life because ADAM HAD TO DIE!
Gen 3:22 KJV And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: When you realize the ONLY WAY TO SAVE YOU was by DEATH, then the nails in Jesus' hands, and the whippings in his flesh cutting him to ribbons, and the agonizing suffering WERE DONE BECAUSE HE HAD GRACE FOR US AND LOVED US!
His bloodshed becomes something so tremendously PRECIOUS, when we understand it was His love for us that made Him do the only thing that could be done to get us back! No wonder Peter scolded Simon so severely. ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH Then Philip is sent by the Spirit to the south of Jerusalem on the way to GAZA.
Isa 53:7-8 KJV He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (8) He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. We also read : Isa 53:4-6 KJV Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He asks Philip what this means. Act 8:35 KJV Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. He preached JESUS! This suffering was talking about Jesus!
Heb 12:2 KJV Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Phi 2:7-8 KJV But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Isa 52:14 KJV As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: The Ethiopian hears of the SUFFERING.
Isa 53:11 KJV He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. God was only satisfied with Christ's extreme suffering. And then we read: Act 8:36-37 KJV And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Instead of offering MONEY to Philip for a gift of salvation or for a gift of power from God, THE EUNUCH SINCERELY ASKS PHILIP WHAT HINDRANCE MIGHT EXIST IN HIM TO ALLOW FOR A HIS BAPTISM TO TRULY WORK FOR HIM? WHAT A DIFFERENCE from Simon!
But the eunuch saw no miracles as Simon did.
And today people come in two groups still.
SALVATION IS FREE, BUT IT WAS NOT CHEAP! Some PLAY with salvation, like Simon.
Folks, we have nothing of value to God to offer except our HEARTS! "If I cannot do this, then I am out of here"
The sacrifice of Jesus ought to smite our souls and prick our hearts and have us cry to God forevermore in thanks and appreciation for the HUGE sacrifice He gave of Himself!
Peter told Jerusalem they slew the only Lord and Christ!
Act 2:23 KJV Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Act 2:36-38 KJV Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. THEY WERE PRICKED IN THEIR HEARTS.
If people can casually throw away their salvation for anything else going on in the world, for a man or a woman, or for a little problem between them and other believers, THERE IS NOT THE APPRECIATION FOR THE SACRIFICE THAT THERE SHOULD BE! How valuable and PRECIOUS is that sacrifice? Saving us from an eternal hellfire.
Heb 10:29 KJV Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? We ought to NEVER let anything bother us and worry us enough to get us to forget about GOD and HIS GIFTS!
When you read history, I told you about how Simon became a leader of SIMONIANS and rejected Jesus, and claimed to be Father, son and Holy Ghost Himself. But you know what tradition says about the Ethiopian? GILL'S COMMENTARY: "...it is reported of this eunuch, that after his conversion he preached the Gospel to the inhabitants of Zeylan and Arabia Felix, and in the island of Traprobane in the Red sea, and at last suffered martyrdom." HE GAVE HIS LIFE! They say in an ancient Ethiopian writing, "we, almost before all other Christians, received baptism from the eunuch of Candace, queen of Ethiopia, whose name was Indich:'' Simon went on into evil doctrines exalting himself as God. Let us ever appreciate the SACRIFICE AND SUFFERING OF JESUS!
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